Joy Farrington shares with powerful honesty

Sex was intended to bring glory to God. It was never intended to be used to degrade or abuse, to bring shame or invoke feelings of pain. It was created for pleasure, for God's glory, for intimacy, for beauty.

And throughout the Bible it cries out that we honour this thing called sexual purity, that we honour our bodies, that we consecrate ourselves to God.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

So how is it that for so many people, especially within the church, sex is something that is shameful to talk about, it's embarrassing or it brings up negative emotions?

Sex was designed by God that we might know him more fully; our sexuality is meant to draw us deeper into intimacy with God rather than further away from that goal. As we go deeper in intimacy with God so our sexuality is also able to come under His covering and be guided by Him.

God and sex are not at war with each other, they are on the same team. It is Satan who is at war with God.

What is the most attacked area of our beings?

Our sexuality.

Satan knows the true value of our sexuality and he knows that if he can take that value away he can keep us removed from intimacy, from pleasure, from purity. Over the last 50 years in particular the value of sex has dropped and continues to do so. There is evidence of this in everything from our movies and commercials to our language/humour and the explosion of the sex industry. Sex trafficking is quickly becoming the world's most lucrative trade.

A common phrase used by those in advertising and in the media is that 'sex sells'. Unfortunately it does. Sex has become a commodity available to anyone at the right price.

We have become very good at degrading sex without even realising it. Value needs to return to that which God values. Purity needs to become more desirable than the temptation before us.

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 1 Thessalonians 4:7

It's not as simple as just wearing a ring, that isn't what secures your purity. Purity isn't about simply abstaining from sex; it's about maintaining honour and integrity in thought, word and deed. It's not about how much you can push a boundary, but about how far back from a boundary line you can stand.

The battle for purity isn't just for the single; it doesn't end when you get a ring on your finger or say, 'I do.' It may get easier in some areas but the temptation can just begin to look different.